Creel structure for spinning frames and the like



Nov. 1, 1960 L. o. CRAWFORD ETAL. 2,958,479

CREEL STRUCTURE FOR 5PINNING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed April 1, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

IN V EN TORS LOU/J 0. CRAWFORD, BY SAMl/fil. R. WALSH 6' ROBERT L.SNYDER ATTORNE VJ Nov- 1, 1960 L. o. CRAWFORD arm.

CREZEL STRUCTURE FOR SPINNING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed April 1, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 2 3 r m .i D 6 N TRHO R mmw m T m a CR ab 6 6 0mm 04. LSR Yp B Nov. 1, 1960 1.. o. CRAWFORD ETAL 2,958,479

CREEL STRUCTURE FOR SPINNING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed April 1, 1957Fign 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fl- 9 7 IN VEN TORS LOU/S 0. CRAWFORD, SAMUEL R.WALSH 6 BY ROBERT 1.. SNYDER W a %zdud ATTORNEHS Nov. 1, 1960 CREEL STFiled April 1, 1957 L. O. CRAWFORD ET AL RUCTURE FOR SPINNING FRAMES ANDTHE! LIK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SAMUEL R. WALS ROBERT L. D

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L0 I8 0. CRAWFUED, BY 11 2R ATT EYJ res CREEL STRUCTURE FOR SPINNINGFRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed Apr. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 649,857

2 Claims. (Cl. 242-131) This invention relates generally to creelstructures such as are provided on spinning frames to support thebobbins carrying the roving supply for the spinning operation, and moreparticularly to an improved creel structure of this sort that providesexceptional flexibility in the supported arrangement of the rovingsupply bobbins so as to allow arrangement on a spinning frame of amaximum number of bobbins of a given size, or a maximum size of bobbinin a given number.

Briefly described, the creel structure of the present inventioncomprises an arrangement of bobbin supporting means on stringer membersfor carrying the roving supply bobbins in depending relation, with thebobbin supporting means adjustable longitudinally of the stringermembers, with the stringer members carried on lateral arm members foradjustment laterally thereon, and with these arm members carried forvertical adjustment on an aligned series of spaced post members, so thatadjustment in every direction is possible for arranging the supportedposition of the roving supply bobbins to the best advantage. A furtherresult of this creel structure arrangement is to provide for a morecompact disposition of the roving supply bobbins and thereby to lowersubstantially the necessary creel height, so that it is easier toservice and so that convenient top storage space can be arrangedthereon. In addition, the several component elements of the creelstructure can be readily formed according to the present invention so asto minimize their tendency to collect lint.

These and other features of the present invention are described infurther detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spinning frame equipped with a creelstructure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, ofthe creel structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of a stringer member with a bobbin supportingmeans secured thereon;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially at the line 44 in Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a further section detail taken substantially on the line 55 inFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in end elevation of a modified form oflower stringer supporting means;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical arrangement of rovingsupply bobbins on a creel structure embodying the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates generallythe arrangement of a spinning frame F equipped with a creel structureembodying the present invention to support the necessary number ofroving supply bobbins B for withdrawal of roving therefrom to be spunand rewound at the spindles S. The general arrangement of the creelstructure provided according to the present invention is illustratedmore in detail in Fig.

2,958,479 Patented Nov. 1, 1960 its 2, in which the creel structure isshown to comprise post members 10, which are spaced in an aligned seriesalong the central longitudinal axis of the spinning frame F as shown inFig. l; lateral arm members 12 and 14, which are carried on each of thepost members 10 for vertical adjustment thereon and for disposition intransverse relation with respect to the alignment of the post members19; stringer members 16, which are carried by the lateral arm members 12and 14 for lateral adjustment in relation to the post members 10 and fordisposition in parallel spaced relation with respect to the post memberalignment; and bobbin supporting means 18 (see Fig. 3), which arecarried for longitudinal adjustment on the stringer members 16 tosupport roving supply bobbins B in depending relation thereon.

The post members 10 are each fitted with a base member 20 formed forstraddling disposition on the spinning frame F at the roller beamsthereof (not shown), and for attachment thereat by means of fasteningbolts 20' or the like. The post members 11 are also preferably threadedat their upper ends as indicated at 10' so that they may have thenecessary fittings attached thereto for supporting an overhead rail orthe like R such as is usually employed for guiding an overhead cleaningdevice along a spinning frame F.

The lateral arm members 12 and 11 that are carried on the post members10 have the form of a downwardly opening rectangular channel in crosssection (compare Figs. 2 and 4) that is less in width than the diameterof the post members 10 except at a portion thereof, as indicated at 12and 14 in Figs. 2 and 4, at which the side faces of arm members 12 and14 are formed outwardly and at which the top face thereof is aperturedfor fitting slidably over the post members 16, so that means such asbolts 22 and 24 may be arranged adjacent these outwardly formed portions12 and 14 for drawing the arm member side faces together in clampingrelation on the post members 10 and thereby fix the arm members 12 and14 in place at a desired vertical adjustment. The arm members 12 and 14are also specially formed at the downwardly opening face of theirchannel cross section With reentrant flanges 26 and 28 which are formedto define a longitudinal slot at which the previously mentioned stringermembers 16 may be carried.

The stringer members 16 are tubular in form with a generally triangularcross section and with a slot 30 running lengthwise at the bottom facethereof. These stringer members 16 are carried on the lateral armmembers 12 and 14 by pairs of bracket members 32 and 32 adjustablyattached in depending relation at the bottom face of the arm members 12and 14 by means of bolts 34 inserted at the bottom face slot formed bythe arm member flanges 26 and 28 and engaged by spring nuts 36 arrangedwithin the arm members 12 and 14 to bear at the inside faces of theflanges 26 and 28 thereof. The bracket members 32 and 3'2 are eachformed with lateral lips 38 and 38 at their depending ends, and they areattached on the arm members 12 and 14 in the above noted manner so thatthe brackets 32 and 32 of each pair are spaced to receive the stringermembers 16 therebetween to rest on the lateral lips 38 and 38, with theadjacent edges of the lateral lips 38 and 38 in turn spaced insubstantial correspondence with the width of the lengthwise stringermember slot 30, so as to provide for attaching the stringer members 16thereto by bolts 40 extended between the bracket member lateral lips: 38and 38' and through the stringer member slot 30 for engagement withinthe stringer members 16 by spring nuts 42. The lengthwise slot 31 in thestringer member 16 also serves in a similar manner for carrying thebobbin supporting means 18 thereon, the bobbin supporting means 18comprising any suitable form of bobbin hanger such as is illustrated inFig. 3 and having a mounting bolt 44 at the top thereof extended throughthe stringer member slot 30 for engagement by a spring nut 46.

The upper lateral arm members 12 are also employed for carrying rovingrods 48 by means of hanger rods 50 threaded at one end to engage collarelements 52 that may be adjustably fixed on the roving rods 8 with. thehanger rods 5% acting in the nature of set screws. The hanger rodsSharein turn carried at their other ends by sleeve members 54 withinwhich they are slidably adjustable and on which they may be fixed inplace by set screws. as indicated at 54. The sleeve members 54 each havea hanger stud 56 formed thereon that may be extended between the bottomface flanges 26 of the lateral arm members 12 to engage a spring nut 53therein for adjustable attachment to the arm members 12 in the samemanner as the bracket members 32 and 32 for the stringer members 16. Bythis arrangement, the roving rods 48 are made adjustable both laterallyand verti cally for disposition in a desired relation with respect tobobbins B supported on the stringer members 16.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the roving rods 48 are carried on the lateralarm members between the stringer members 15 arranged thereon to carrythe two outermost rows of bobbins B at each side of the post members 10.The lateral arm members 12 also carry further stringer members 16 forsupporting a third inner row of bobbins B at each side of the postmembers and the bracket members 38' provided for attaching these furtherstringer members 16 arranged in a greater length than the bracketmembers 38 for the other stringer members so that the inner rows ofbobbins B are maintained readily accessible behind the outer rows forreplacement when necessary. The lower lateral arm members 14additionally carried on the post members 1% correspond in form to theupper lateral arm members 12 except in extent of reach from the postmembers 10, the lower arm members 14 having a lesser extent proportionedfor carrying a single stringer member 16 at each side of the postmembers 113 in vertical alignment below the innermost rows of bobbins Bon the upper lateral arm members 12 at the normal range of lateraladjustment for these upper inner rows of bobbins B.

The channel shape form of the lateral arm members 12 and 14, as well asthe triangular cross section of the stringer member 16 and thecylindrical form of the roving rods 30, results in arranging theprincipal components of the creel structure of the present inventionwith a minimum tendency to collect lint, as previously noted above. Thisadvantage is further enhanced by the case with which the ends of lateralarm members 12 and 14, stringer members 16, and roving rods 48 may beclosed, respectively, by end caps 12", 14" and 16', or end plugs 48', asshown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Figs. 4 and 5 also illustrate the manner inwhich stringer members 16 and roving rods -48 may be fitted readily withcoupling sleeves 16" and 48" so that standard lengths thereof can beemployed to form any particular length of oreel structure desired.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of supporting means for thelower stringer members 16 that may be employed to advantage where theparticular form of bobbins B being handled, or space limitations ingeneral, make it desirable to eliminate the vertical alignment of theinner stringer members 16 at each side of the post members 10 on theupper and lower lateral arm members 12 and 14 according to thearrangement illustrated in Fig. 2. The modified stringer supportingmeans shown in. Figs. 6 and 7 comprises a clamping collar formed by apair of half collar elements 60 fitted with fastening means as indicatedat 62, by which these collar elements 60 may be drawn together inclamping relation on the post members 10, and having each collar element60 formed in complementary relation with an attaching flange portion 64at which a bolt 66 may be seated to extend through the length-wise slot30 in the stringer member 16 and engage a spring nut 68 therein tosecure the lower stringer members 16 on the respective collar elements60. The lower stringer members 16 then have lateral hanger armsadjustably secured by bolts 72 and spring nuts 74 at the stringer memberslots 31 for carrying bobbin supporting means 18 at the extending endsthereof, so as to allow disposition of the lower row of, bobbins B instaggered relation with the lower ends of the bobbins B in the upperinnermost row depending to some extent therebetween.

Fig. 8 diagrams a portion of a typical arrangement of roving supplybobbins B with the path of roving indicated as withdrawn therefrom fordoubling at each of the spindle positions. which are designated by thetransversely broken lines in Fig. 8. This diagram illustrates very wellthe compactness in the supported arrangement of the roving supplybobbins made possible by the creel structure of the present inventionon' which the longitudinal spacing of the bobbins: B in each row isindependently ad.- justable, on which the lateral spacing of each row ofbobbins B is independently adjustable, and on which the verticalpositioning of the upper and lower tiers of bobbins B is independentlyadjustable.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes ofillustration only and is not intended to be limited by this descriptionor otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A creel structure for spinning frames and the like comprising analigned series of spaced vertical post members, lateral arm memberscarried in vertically spaced relation by each of said post members forvertical adjustment throughout the full height thereof and fordisposition intransversely extending relation to each side of said postmembers with respect to the serial alignment thereof, at least the upperof said vertically spaced lateral arm members on each of said postmembers having the form of a downwardly opening rectangular channel withreentrant flanges forming a lengthwise coextensive slot at thedownwardly opening face thereof, the downwardly opening form of at leastsaid upper vertically spaced lateral arm members being proportioned witha cross section that is less in width than said post members except at acentral lengthwise portion having the arm member side faces formedoutwardly and the top and downwardly opening faces thereof apertured forfitting slidably over said post members with means fitted adjacent saidcentral lengthwise portion for drawing said outwardly formed side facestogether in clamping relation on said post members, a plurality ofstringer members secured at said lengthwise slot in the upper verticallyspaced lateral arm members at each side of said post members for lateraladjustment throughout the full transverse extent of said arm members toeach side of said post members and for disposition in parallel spacedrelation with respect to the serial alignment thereof, at least onestringer member carried by the lower vertically spaced lateral armmembers on each side of said post member for similar spaced paralleldisposition, and means carried by all of said stringer members andadjustable lengthwise thereof for supporting bobbins in dependingrelation thereon, whereby said creel structure is made universallyadjustable for supporting a maximum number of bobbins of a given size.

2. A creel structure for spinning frames and the like comprising analigned series of spaced vertical post members, lateral arm memberscarried in vertically spaced relation by each of said post members forvertical ad justment throughout the full height thereof and fordisposition in transversely extending relation to each side of said postmembers with respect to the serial alignment thereof, at least the upperof said vertically spaced lateral arm members on each of said postmembers having the form of a downwardly opening rectangular channel withreentrant flanges forming a lengthwise coextensive slot at thedownwardly opening face thereof, a plurality of stringer members securedat said lengthwise slot in the upper vertically spaced lateral armmembers at each side of said post members for lateral adjustmentthroughout the full transverse extent of said arm members to each sideof said post members and for disposition in parallel spaced relationwith respect to the serial alignment thereof, at least one stringermember carried by the lower vertically spaced lateral arm members oneach side of said post member for similar spaced parallel disposition,and means carried by all of said stringer members and adjustablelengthwise thereof for supporting bobbins in depending relation thereon,whereby said creel structure is made universally adjustable forsupporting a maximum number of bobbins of a given size, said stringermembers being tubular in form with a generally triangular cross sectionand with a slot running lengthwise at the bottom face thereof at whichsaid bobbin supporting means may be carried, pairs of bracket membersbeing adjustably attached in depending relation at the lengthwise slotin the downwardly opening face of at least said upper vertically spacedlateral arm members, and said pairs of bracket members having laterallips formed at the depending ends thereof in paired inwardly extendingrelation for supporting said stringer members, whereby the attachment ofsaid bracket member pairs on said lateral arm members may be adjusted tospace the adjacent edges of the lateral lips thereon in substantialcorrespondence with the width of said lengthwise stringer member slotand thereby provide for attaching said stringer members to said bracketmembers at said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.179,238 Bohannon Nov. 20, 1956 2,758,439 Bradshaw Aug. 14, 19562,819,855 Hewitt Jan. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,880 France July 6,1922 881,839 France Feb. 4, 1943

